Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has announced that over 100 Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Lok Sabha have signed a notice to initiate a motion for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma. This threshold of signatures is the minimum required to introduce such a motion in the Lok Sabha. The development signals a significant step towards potential impeachment proceedings against the Allahabad High Court judge.
The motion stems from an incident earlier this year when burnt currency notes were discovered at Justice Varma's official residence in Delhi. Following a fire incident in March, the discovery led to an inquiry. A committee of three High Court judges, appointed by then Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna, reportedly indicted him. Justice Khanna then referred the matter to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recommending Justice Varma's removal after he declined to resign.
According to the Judges (Inquiry) Act of 1968, once a motion to remove a judge is admitted in either house of Parliament, the Speaker or Chairman will form a three-member committee to investigate the grounds for removal.
Rijiju commented on the matter after an all-party meeting, stating that the signature collection was underway and had already surpassed the 100-signature mark. He also noted that the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) would determine when the motion is moved and discussed in the House. The BAC is a group of parties that finalizes the agenda in their respective houses. Rijiju refrained from commenting on the business's priority, stating that he could not make announcements before the BAC's decision and the Chair's approval.
Rijiju has expressed that the government aims for a unified stance on the issue, emphasizing that corruption within the judiciary is a serious matter. He stated that he had spoken with prominent opposition parties who have, in principle, agreed to support the motion. He also mentioned reaching out to single-MP parties to ensure inclusivity and a unified stance from the Parliament of India. Rijiju welcomed the Congress party's support, emphasizing that no party should be seen protecting a corrupt judge.
However, opposition parties are also raising concerns about a pending impeachment notice against Allahabad High Court judge Justice Shekhar Yadav for alleged communal remarks. Muslim League's Haris Beeran and CPI Rajya Sabha floor leader P Sandosh Kumar raised this issue during the all-party meeting.
Justice Varma, since being transferred back to the Allahabad High Court from the Delhi High Court, has not been assigned any judicial work. He maintains his innocence and has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the committee's findings. Varma claimed he was denied a personal hearing by the Chief Justice of India and the opportunity to participate in evidence collection, cross-examine witnesses, or access crucial material like CCTV footage. His petition argues that the inquiry did not present a specific case against him or investigate critical facts, such as who placed the cash, its origin, or the fire's cause.
Senior Lok Sabha officials said that after the MPs' notice, the Presiding Officer will verify the signatures, with the Speaker's office confirming them with individual MPs. The government may bring the notice against Justice Varma in the Monsoon Session's first week. Officials familiar with the matter suggest that the Supreme Court-appointed committee's internal probe report will not influence Parliament's impeachment process, as the House will rely on the lawmakers' notice and its in-house report.
